Hydraulic vacuum cleaning device



2 Sheets-Sheet C. F. M DONALD HYDRAULIC VACUUM CLEANING DEVICE FiledNOV. 4, 1926 July 24, 1928.

[72 vn tior fiidjimw f' 174020710 Z'd July 24, 1928.

C. F. M DONALD HYDRAULIC VACUUM CLEANING DEVICE Filed Nov. 4, 1925 2Shegets-Sheet- 2 619m; j? 1% 20mm,

Httorn'ey Patented duly 2.4;1928

-CL.AYTOI\T F.; MACDONALD, OF

ASHEVILLE, NORT CAROLINA.

HYDRAULIC. vacuum; CLEANING imvxcn.

Application filed November 4; 1926. Serial No. 146,220.

' This invention relates to improvements'in hydraulic vacuum cleaningdevices, and has for its primary object to provide a device ofthischaracter that may be permanently infstalled within a building, andsoconstructed as to permit of thefatta chment 'of vacuum' nozzles to thevacuum inlet pipeof the device so that carpets, articles of furniture,etc, etc, on the various floor levels of the building may be properlycleaned.

A further ob'ect is to provide a device of this character wherein.aplurality of fluid jet nozzles are arranged in the vacuum chamber, allof which have communication with a single source of water supply, and

complementary to each of which is an exhaust pipe for consequentlymultiplying the force of the vacuum within the chamber that wouldotherwise not be present in the case of but a single jet having a singleexhaust 1pc. 1 I

A further and most important object is to provide a vacuum cleaningevice of this character wherein asupply-o the vacuum producing fluid isinjected into the'vacuurn chamber at the upper end thereofwhen thepressure of the fluid fiowinginto the chamber is relatively low for thepurpose of effectively cleaning. the interior of the cham ber at thestart and finish of the vacuum.

cleaning. operation. j

It is generally well known that hydraulic vacuum cleaning devices. ofthis general character will in thecourse-of time become so clogged withdust and dirt that the'device will not operate by reason of thefacteffectively discharged intothe sewerage sys-.

tem without disagreeable noises usually accompanying the exhaust ofthefluid and without permitting the escape of the dust and dirt after.being, exhausted from the p vacuum'p roducing chamber.

' A final salient object is to, provide a vac-. uum cleaning device ofthis character that 'is ofextremely simple construction, inexpensive ofinstallation, and highly effective in'its operation, i a

- Other objects will become apparent as the nature of the invention is,better understood,

' a vacuum cleaning device constructed in acthe same comprisingthe novelform, combination, and arrangement, of parts hereinafter more fullydescribed, shown in the accompanying drawing and claimed.

In the drawings wherein like referenc characters indicate correspondingparts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is afragmentary vertical section through a buildinghavinginstalled therein cordance with the present invention.

-Figure 2 is a view'partly in side elevation, J and partly in section ofthe device, per se. I Figure?) is a detail vertical section taken atrightangles through the device as dis- 7 closed in Figure 2,-and

. F'gure 4 is a transverse section taken substanti'a'lly upon the line44 of Figure 3.- Now having particular reference to the drawings whereinthere isdisclosed the most practical embodiment of the invention withwhich I am at this time familiar, 5 designates a metallic vacuum chamberpreferably of square shape in cross section asiindicated in Figurev 4,the outer side wall of which is provided with a large hand opening 6within which is arranged-and rigidly secureda closure platey7 having anormally plugged opening 8 therein. The lower end of the vacuum chamber5 is of tapering formation as clearly disclosed in Figures l and 3,- andthe end'thereof terminates into a pair of branch pipes 9 9 between whichat the upper ends thereof isa pyramidal spacing block 10 serving toguide the vacuum producing fluid together with the dust and dirt intosaid branch pipes 9-9 and for preventing the accumulation of the dustand dirt therebetween.

The top wall ofthe vacuum chamber 5 is provided with a threaded-opening11' within which is arranged one end of an elongated vertical dirt anddust inlet pipe 12 that is extended vertically through the floor levelof the building A in Figure 1, and equipped at each floor level with avacuuru hose connection B, it being obvious from a, consideration ofFigure '1 that the vacuum chamber of the device is disposed within thecellar of the building. l The sidewall of the vacuum chamber 5 oppositethefhand opening 6 is formed with an opening 13 within which is mountedthe inlet end of a Yv-pipe 14, the branches of which I terminate in adepending manner within the center of'the chamber, and in exact centeredrelation with respect to the exhaust branches 9.--9 of said Vacuumchamber.

- Within the exhaust ends of the branches are jet nozzles 15-15, thebores of which are of tapering formation so as to providerestricteddischarge openings at the outer ends thereof, see Figure 3.

In communication with the branch pipe 14 at the inlet end thereof, andat the outer side of the vacuum chamber 5 is a short pipe fitting 16 incommunication withqthe outer end of which is a fluid inlet pipe 17 incommunication with a source of steam compressed air or water supply,preferably the building water supply and within which pipe is located aconventional globe valve 18, see Figure 1. v

Associated with the core of this valve is an elongated vertical rod 19that extends through the floor levels of the building A, and is equippedat each floor level with an operating handle 20 so that the valve may beturned on or off at any floor level. 25

The top side of the fitting 1(yis formed with an opening '18 across thecenter of which is a ball valve supporting pin 19. Arranged upon the topside of this fitting 16 and having communication with the-opening.1 8-therein is a small fluid chamber 20"" upon the upperend of which is acap head 21- threaded intowhich is one'ei i'd of' an elbow pipe 22, theopposite end of which has communication with the interior of the vacuumchamber 5 at the upper end thereof. Arranged within this fluid chamberis a ball valve 23 that under-zero or low water pressure will restunonthe pin 19 as disclosed by the full lines in Figure 3. Obviously,

as the valve is turnedon to permit the introduction of the fluid intothe vacuum chamber through the jet nozzles 1515, the pressure will berelatively low and consequently the ball 23 willnot be raisedrto thedotted line position in Figure 3 which would close thefluid passagethrough the elbow pipe 22, thus allowing a certain amount'of the fluidto pass through the elbow pipe and enter the vacuum chamber 5 at theupper end thereof for thoroughly cleaning the interior of the chamber atthe initial operation of the device. This is also true at the end of theoperation by reason of the fact that as the globe valve 18 is operatedfor cutting off the supply of fluid, the pressure will be reduced at theend of the closing op eration, again letting in a certain amount of Vthe fluid for cleaning the interior of the vacuum chamber during thelast stages of operation of the device. As soon as the pressure of thefluid passing into the vac- "uum chamber hasreached a certain degree,

the ball valve 23 will be automatically raised as indicated by thedotted lines in Figure ,3

pipes effecting pistons passing therethrough and by the long stroke ofthe columns of water between the inletand outlets of said pipes a greatpull or vacuum forcewill be provided for the vacuumchainber 5.Obviously, by reason of the two exhaust pipes 2525 together with theircomplementary jet nozzles 15-15 a double force of the vacuum will besecuredeven though a single supply of fluid under pressure is present.

The lower ends of the exhaust pipes 25 are arranged within a tank 26from which leads,

a discharge pipe 27 in communication with 3 the sewerage system. Thispipe 27 .is in communication with thetank a'bove the bottom wall thereofso as to maintaln a cushion of Water within the tank as clearlydisclosed 'in Figures 2 and 3; v

In addition to the connection B within the in the insert plate 7 of thevacuum chamber 5 is provided in order that theflu'e of'the v furnace C'may be conveniently cleaned.

It will thus be seen that I'have' provided a highly novel, simple andefficient hydraulic vacuum cleaning device that is well adapted for allthe purposes-heretofore designated, and even though I have heremshownand) described the invention as consisting of certain detail structuralelements it is neverthe,- less to be understood that some changesn ay pbe'made therein without affecting the spirit and scope of the appendedclaims. I

Having thus described the invention, What I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. In a vacuum cleaning device of the"character described, a vacuum chamber having a suctlon inlet atone end,and a a double jet nozzle arranged within the vacuum chamber each ofsaid nozzles being centered above the respective exhaust pipes of thevacuum chamber, a common fluid pressure inlet for said jet nozzle, andmeans automatically operable for introducing a charge of the fluid intothe chamber above the nozzleduring low pressures of the fluid, saidmeans being inoperative when the pressure of the'fluid reaches apredetermined degree.

pair of exhaust pipes at its. opposite end,

2'. 'In a hydraulic vacuum cleaning d e' vice of the'class described, avacuum chamher having a waste inlet in the top thereof,

;interpo.sed between the fluid supply pipe and said nozzle, a fluidreceiving chamber arranged on thetop of the fitting and com- 'mumcatingwith the bore thereof, a pipe affording communication between the top ofsaid chamber and the extreme upper portion of the vacuum chamber, and anormally open valve arranged within the fluid chamber on said fitting.-i

3. 'In a hydraulic vacuum cleaning device of the class described, avacuum chamher having a suction inlet at one end, and

a fluid exhaust at its opposite-end, a fluid jet nozzle arranged withinthe chamber in such a manner that the fluid will be caused to dischargethrough the exhaust of the chamber for creating a Vacuum therein, a

nozzle for cleaning the interior of thevchamber, said meansconsisting'of a branch pipe -in communication at one end with the sourceof fluid supply andjat its opposite end with the interior of the vacuumchamber, and a normally open valve operable to closed position when apredetermined difference of pressure exists between "the branch pipe andthe fluid supply pipe.

4. In a hydraulic vacuum cleaning device, a vacuum chamber having asuction inletat one end, and a pair of exhaust nozzles at its oppositeend, elongated discharge pipes in communication. with said exhaustnozzles, a pair of fluid ejecting jet nozzles arranged within thechamber and being centered above the exhaust pipe, a common fluid supplypipe for both of said jet nozzles, and means whereby a certain quantityof the fluid may be introduced into the chamber above the jet nozzlesfor cleaning said chamber, said means comprising a branch pipe extendingbetween the supply pipe and the upper portion ofthe vacuum chamber, anda normally open valve in the branch pipe operable to a closed positionwhen a predetermined difference of pressure exists between the branchpipe and the fluid supply pipe.

5. In a hydraulic vacuum cleaning device of the class described,a vacuumchamber having a suction inlet at one end, and a fluid exhaust at itsopposite end, a fluid jet nozzle arranged within the chamber in such amanner that the fluid will be caused to discharge through the exhaust ofthe chamher for creating a vacuum therein, a fluid supply pipecommunicating with the jet nozzle, a by-pass structure between thesupply pipe and the top portion of the VflCll'; um chamber, and apressure controlled valve arranged in the by-pass for permitting asupply of the fluid toenter the top of the chamber only when the fluidsupply pressure is exceedingly low.

6. Ina hydraulic vacuum cleaning device of the class described, a vacuumchamber having a waste inlet in the top thereof,

and a suction inlet in one side thereof adjacent the top, a fluidexhaust at the lower end of the vacuum chamber, a fluid nozzle fitted atone end in the suction inlet, said haust, a fluid supply pipecommunicating with said nozzle, a by-pass structure affol-dingcommunication between thesupply pipe and thetop of the vacuum chamber,and a pressu'recontrolled vertically movable valve arranged in thebypass structure for permitting a quantity of the fluid to enter the topof the vacuum chamber to clean the walls thereof only when the fluidsupply pressure is exceedingly low.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CLAYTON F. MACDONALD.

